Casket receiving and placing device



Oct. 22, 1940. *y A, 1- FRlEL ET AL 2,218,878

GASKET RECEIVING AND PLACING DEVICE Filed Jan. 30, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2' v E 5 'F I* N x I RN A R n Y u Q I rl.' (n, I .I I me \\t\\; J'J- I 1 `I ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 22, A194() UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,218,878 GASKET RECEIVING AND PLAGING 'DEVICE Arnold'J. Friel and James Howard Retz,

Helena, Mont.

Application January 30, 1.939, vSerial No. .253,710A

6 Claims.

'Ihe present invention relates to a 'device for receiving and facilitating Vthe placing of a casket on a lowering device.

An important object of the invention resides. in

the provision of novel means, removably asso:-

ciated with a conventional casketr lowering device, for receiving a casket and allowing it to be deposited upon the lowering device.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a collapsible structure adapted for support upon and above a casket lowering device whereby a casket may be moved forwardly above the lowering device and subsequently deposited upon the lowering straps.

],-5 The invention will be fully and comprehensively understood from a consideration of the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings which form a part of the application.

In the drawings: y Figure l is a top plan View of the-device.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 2-2 of Figure l.

Figure 3 is a sectional View taken substantially on line 3-3 of'Figurel.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional View taken Substantially on line 4--4 of Figure 1.`

Figure 5 is a sectional view similar to Figure 4 and illustrating a modied use of the device.

Figure 6 is a detail view of the means employed for limiting rotation of thev casket retaining bracket. l

Figure 7 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 'I-"I of Figure 6.

' vFigure 8 is a detail sectional view of the track mechanism forming a part of the invention.

Referring to the drawings for a more detailed description thereof, `wherein like parts arey identified by the same reference characters throughout the several views, a conventional casket lowering device with which the present invention is used is indicated generally by the reference numeral I0 and comprises parallel side rails I I, end rails I2 and spaced corner posts I3 connecting said rails. The lowering device I0 further includes lowering straps 4Ill mounted on reels on the side rails I I and controlled by any desired means, not shown. As is well known the lowering` device is of a size to be positioned over a grave and to permit lowering of the casket therein.

'I he casket receiving andplacing device is supported on the four corner posts of the conventional lowering device, the same being supported by means of cup-like plates I5, the inner surface 55- of which is concaved for resting upon the convex Surface of the corner posts I3. A transverse Shaft indicated generally by the reference numeral I6 is supported between one pair of the plates I5, the ends of which are welded or otherl wise Secured thereto as indicated at Il. Referring particularly to Figure 2 of the drawings, it will be noted that the'supporting shaft I6 comprises ,spaced hollow tubes I'I supporting in tele-A scoping relation a metal rod I8. Each tube Il carries a roller I9 formed of rubber or similar material and adapted to revolve thereon. In use v of the device, one end of the casket is first positioned upon the shaft IE and by means of the rubber-like rollers I9 is permitted to move forwardly onto the casket receiving structure to be hereinafter described.

A trackway is also supported by the cup-like plates I5 and extends longitudinally of the deviceand superposed'above the side rails I I of the lowering device. vThe trackway indicated generally by the reference numeral 20 comprises telescoping sections 2l and 22 supported in parallel relation above the Side rails II and having one end welded or otherwise secured to the upper surface of the cup-like plates I5. As shown in Figures 2 and 3 ofthe drawings, each section of the track' is substantially C-shaped in cross section, the inner section 22 being grooved as indicated at 22 forming a V-shaped extending portion 23. `The outer section 2I is formed with a tongue 2 I whichv engages the groove 22 when the sections are assembled. `This construction permits the track sections to be held in telescoping relation with the extending lportion .23 of one section and the tongue 2 I ofthe other section guiding the wheels 28 to be hereinafter described. The telescoping sections are provided so'that the entire device is .readily collapsible when not in use.

The meansfor supporting one end of the casket for travel in-the trackway comprises a carriage bar indicated generally at 24 in Figure 3 of the drawings. 'Ihe carriage bar 24 is likewise telescoping and comprises spaced hollow tubes 25and 26 supporting therebetween a metal rod 2l. As is readily apparent, the carriage bar 24 telescopes from the center and supports on each end thereof, a: pair of V-shaped grooved wheels 28, better shown in Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings. The wheels 28 are mounted in bearings 29 formed in a block 30 carried by each end of the carriage bar 24.' y.

The carriage bar 24 further includes an L- shaped bracket 3l supported substantially centrally of the rod 21 and movable in adjusted relation thereon. The bracket 3l, as shown in Fig ure 4. of the drawings, forms a stop for one end of the casket 32. The bracket 3| is affixed to the rod 21 and is adapted to rotate with the same, the rotation being controlled by the means indicated in Figures 6 and 7 of the drawings. It will be noted that the tube 25 is formed with a segmental portion 33 having spaced openings 34 and 35 formed therein and that the rod 21 is formed with a depending shoulder 36 supporting therein a pin 31 backed by a spring 38. The pin 31 is retracted by means of the portion 39 depending therefrom. When desiring to move the bracket 3| from the position shown in- Figure 4 of the drawings to the position shown in Figure of the drawings, the pin 31 is retracted and the bracket swung upwardly at which time the pin 31 will engage the segmental portion 33 until contact is made with the `opening 34 whence the pin will become embedded therein and thus prevent further rotation of said bracket.

In use of the device, the foot end of the casket 32 is rst placed upon the rollers I 9 of the supporting shaft i6 and by urging the casket forwardly it will be caused to rest upon the carriage bar 24 and be held thereon by means of the bracket 3l. The carriage bar 24 is pushed forwardly for travel on the wheels 38 within the vtrack 20 which motion is continued until the head end of the casket will roll from the rollers I9 onto the straps I4 of the lowering device. The carriage bar 24 and bracket 3I are then pulled beyond the casket 32 permitting the foot end of the casket to be deposited upon the other lowering strap I4 and the casket is then lowered into the grave in the conventional manner.

The herein described device is also adaptedfor supporting a burial vault dome into position wherein it can be placed and locked upon the burial vault base. In this instance, the burial vault base is placed on the straps I4 and lowered within the grave so as to clear the trackway 20. The casket is next positioned within the vault base in the manner above described. The carriage bar 24 is then returned to the position illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings and the bracket 3| rotated 90 to the position shown in Figure 5 of the drawings. One end handle 40 of the vault dome 4I is thenplaced upon the bracket 3| and the carriage bar pushed forwardly in the manner previously described until the end of the dome rests upon the rollers I9 of the supporting shaft I6. For supporting the other end of the Vault dome 4I there is provided an L-shaped bracket 42 rotatably mounted on one end rail I2 of the lowering device and by rotating the bracket 42 to the position shown in Figure 5 of the drawings, it will be caused to engage the other end handle 43 of the vault dome 4I. The vault base and casket are then cranked up under the dome and the dome and vault base clamped in the manner well known. The brackets 3I and 42 are then moved out of position permitting lowering of the covered vault and casket.

From the above description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be noted that there is pro-vided means for placing a casket on a lowering device, the parts of which are readily collapsible for transportation. By a slight modification of the conventional lowering device, the apparatus can also be used for supporting the dome of a vault to permit it to be clamped to the vault base thereby increasing the practicability of the apparatus.

Also it will be understood, of course, by those skilled in the art that variations in the hereinabove described device involving the substitution of substantial equivalents for the devices described are intended to be comp-rehended within the spirit of the present invention and that the invention is capable of extended application and is not confined to the exact showing of the drawings nor to the precise construction described and, therefore, such changes and modifications may be made therein as do not affect the spirit of the invention nor exceed the scope thereof as expressed in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A casket receiving and placing device comprising, a trackway supported above the side rails of a casket lowering device, a supporting bar carrying wheels engageable in said trackway, a stationary shaft extending across one end of said receiving device, said trackway and stationary shaft dening a substantially rectangular shaped frame having cup-shaped members secured to each` corner thereof adapted to be positioned upon the corner posts of a casket lowering device, supporting rollers mounted on said stationary shaft, means carried by said supporting bar for engaging one end of a casket positioned thereon, said means including anv L- shaped bracket attached to said supporting bar, and means for limiting the movement of said L shaped bracket on said supporting bar.

2. A casket receiving and placing device comprising, an extensible trackway forming the side rails of a substantially rectangular-shaped frame, an extensible supporting bar extending transversely of said trackway and carrying wheels engageable therein, an extensible stationary shaft forming one end rail of said frame, said extensible trackway and stationary shaft being attached to cup-shaped elements adapted to be positioned upon the corner posts of a casket lowering device, means carried by said supporting bar for engaging one end of a casket positioned thereon, said means comprisingV an L-shaped bracket mounted on said extensible supporting bar, and means carried by said bar for limiting the movement of said L-shaped bracket.

3. A casket receiving and placing device, comprising, a substantially rectangular-shaped frame, means whereby said frame is adapted to be positioned upon a casket lowering device, the side rails of said frame defining a. trackway,

shaft carrying rollers engageable with said trackway, said shaft forming a movable supporting bar for one end of a casket and comprising spaced hollow tubes and an intermediate tube telescopingly supported therebetween, and means carried by said intermediate tube for'engaging one end of a casket positioned on said shaft.

4. A casket receiving and placing device, comprising, a substantially rectangular-shaped frame, means whereby ,said frame is adapted to be positioned upon a casket lowering device, the side rails of said frame deiining a trackway, shaft carrying rollers engageable with said trackway, said shaft forming a'movable supporting bar for one end of a casket and comprising spaced hollow tubes and ,anV intermediate tube telescopingly supported therebetween, means carried' tioned upon a casket lowering device, the side rails of said frame defining a trackway, shaft carrying rollers engageable withsaid trackway, said shaft forming a movable supporting bar for one end of a casket and comprising spaced hollow tubes and an intermediate tube telescopingly supported therebetween, a substantially L- shaped bracket xedly secured to said intermediate tube for engaging one end of a casket positioned on said shaft, said bracket and intermediate tube adapted to rotate within said spaced hollow tubes, and means carried by said intermediate tube and cooperating with one of said spaced tubes for limiting the rotative movement of said intermediate tube.

6. A casket receiving and placing device, comprising, a substantially rectangular-shaped frame, means whereby said frame is adapted to be positioned upon a casket lowering device, the side rails of said frame dening a trackway, shaft carrying rollers engageable with said traokway,

said shaft forming a movable supporting bar for one end of a casket and comprising spaced hollow tubes and an intermediate tube tele- Y mediate tube adapted to rotate within said spaced hollow tubes, means carried by said intermediate tube and cooperating with one oi said spaced tubes for limiting the rotative movement of said intermediate tube,vsad means including a segmental-shaped portion formed on the inner end of one of said spaced tubes, a depending shoulder formed on said intermediate tube adjacent said segmental portion, and a retractable pin mounted in said'depending portion and normally having engagement with said segmental portion.

ARNOLD J. FRiEL. JAMES HOWARD RETZ. 

